The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-04
THE TIFfIFTH CONGRESS.

lnI 4 II tlf III tilNbkISS.
The meeting Of the new Congress to-
morrow will open an extremely inter
esting chapfe~ Of our political history,
the first feature Of which is that Of the
action Of the House Of Representatives
which involves the fate OF the Democratic
party in the presidential contest next year.
1t is well enough understood not 10
need another explanation Of it, rat the
Democrats defeated the Republican party
and won he national victory in 1884, on
a policy Of reforming the abuses of the
party that had h Id on to power mainly
by the cohesive force Of plumber
Therefore. the Democratic majority in
the House stands pledged to carry out q
reform by reducing war taxes" that is,
the system inaugurated for temporary
emergency
The President has done his part in
certain great reforms OF the big land
steals and in vetoing the bogus pension
legislation.
Now 10 remains for the Democratic
majority to be equally positive When
we say war taxes" the remark must be
qualified TO the extent that the enormous
development Of the country in twenty
five years leaves a certain reason for a
part of the taxes that were originally war
rates, but now become necessary on ac-
count Of this increase in population and
business
We conclude, therefore, with that al
lowance to be made, and with the pract-
cal idea that great work cannot all be
done in one stroke that the House should
show by It's acts in the first session that
1t means to carry out the pledge OF the
peoples party, but thatit should not pro-
coed with an attempt at a sweeping re-
duclion Of the import duties all at once.
The people VIII DO satisfied if She Legis-
laion is positive and shows promise of
gradual bat complete work Of reform.
Now, as TO the opportunity, the fact
that there is a small Democratic ma
iority in the House and very doubtful
Republican majority in the Senate, makes
the situation all the better TO secure a
wise course on the partof Tie Democrats
There are four independents in the
House which reduces the Democratic
majority TO eleven UD for regular party
work In the senate there are thirty
nine Republicans 20 thirly-seven Demo
Gratis, with the chance that Mr.. Riddle
berger may, at any time, vote with the
Democrats, which should tie the Senate
There has been a very extensive dis
cusson about three new Democratic Sen
ators whose seats may be contested,
hessrs. Hearst Of California, Turpie OF
Indiana, and Faulkner of West Virginia
But the objections to seating these
Senators would involve "going behind
the returns Of their State Legislatures,
and if the Republicans attempt to do this
it would be considered by the whole
country as piece of partisan trick
cry that would not be tolerated.
1t is barely possible that the
Republicans may attempt to keep
these three newly-eleoted Democrats out
until they can organize the Senate but
upon general principles it looks as If
they would be sworn in at once. as all
the objections that il is proposed to raise
have been discussed often before and the
questions decided against any going be-
hind the returns' OF the legislatures.
Besides this, as the Democrats have
twenty-five, and the Republicans the
ssme number OF Senators holding o ,er, it
would be in the power of the Democrats
to refuse to vote and thus leave the
Senate without quorum.